Headlight



H. E. HOBSCN Dec. 18, 1962 HEADLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 17,1959 H. E. HOBSON Dec. 18, 1962 HEADLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July17, 1959 United States Patent Oiiice 3,@69538 libatented Dec. 18, i9523,069,538 HEADLEGHT Harry E. Hobson, 534 Sheridan Square, Evanston, ill.Filed July l', 1959, Ser. No. 827,737 6 Claims. (Cl. 24u-59) Thprincipal object of this invention is to provide an improved headlightadapted to be worn on the head, which is particularly adapted forsporting and industrial uses, iwhich is readily and conveniently appliedto l the head of the wearer, which is light in weight, which accuratelyprovides a sharp spot but which may be adjusted to produce a flood,which is hermetically sealed to prevent interior deteriorization butwhich allows ready replacement of the bulb, which is simple and ruggedin construction and foolproof in operation, and which may beinexpensively manufactured.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the headlight and in the cooperative relationships between thecomponent parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanyingspecification, claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the headlight of this inventionillustrated as being mounted on the head of the wearer by means of anadjustable headband.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the headlight andheadband shown in FIG. 1.

FlG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the headlight of FlGS. l and2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 ofFIG. 3.

FiG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFEiG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective View illustrating the headlight as applied tothe visor of a cap so as to be worn on the head of the wearer.

FlG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line7-7 of PEG. 6.

FlG. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along the line-S of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the manner ofhermetically sealing the lens portion to the reflector portion of thereflector unit.

FlG. l is an exploded perspective view of the rubberlike plug and bulbutilized in the headlight.

HG. 1l is an enlarged sectional View showing the manner of adjustablysecuring the strap or headband to the headlight.

Referring first to FlGS. l to 5, the headlight of this invention isgenerally designated at ld, which is here illustrated as being mountedon the head of the wearer by means of an adjustable headband or strap37. The headlight iti includes an integral hollow synthetic plasticreilector which has a substantially parabolic reflecting rear wall lterminating in a front edge l2, a sleeve portion l centrally arranged inthe rear wall l1 and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, andan internal shoulder l-/i in the forward end of the sleeve portion i3.The reflector may be molded from any suitable synthetic plastic materialsuch as the polystyrenes, acrylics and the like. The inside surface ofthe rear wall ll of the reflector is preferably provided `with areflecting coating such as an aluminum or silver coating or the likewhich may be applied thereto in any suitable manner. The interior of thesleeve portion 13 of the reflector is tapered as indicated in FIG. 3from its rear end to the shoulder 14 in its forward end.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 9, the front edge l2 of the reflector 1lis provided with an annular groove 15 which receives an annular tongue16 of a lens 17.

lso, the lens 1'7 is preferably formed from a synthetic plastic materialsuch as the polystyrenes or acrylics and the lens i7 is secured andhermetically sealed to the reilector lll by a suitable adhesive orcement or by heat sealing or the like.

A two wire cord 2l? having rubber-like insulation terminates in a moldedrubber-like plug 2l, the rubber-like insulation and plug preferablybeing formed from rubber or neoprene or the like.

The rubber-like plug 2l which is resilient and compressible is providedwith a central cavity 22. One of the wires of the cord forms a centralcontact 23 in the bottom of the cavity and the other of the wires form aside contact 24 extending along the side of the cavity and alsopreferably over the end of the plug. A prefocused bulb 25 having a baseis removably received in the cavity 22 of the plug, the base of the bulbhaving a center contact 26 which engages the central Contact 23 in thecavity and a sleeve contact 27 which engages the side contact 2d in thecavity. In this way, electrical connections from the wires of the cord2li are readily and positively made with the bulb 25 for illuminatingthe same. The sleeve contact 27 is provided with a flange 28 whichoverlies the end of the plug 2l, and which also engages the Contact 24.

The bulb 25 and its base are first inserted in the cavity 22 of therubberlike plug 2l to make the aforementioned electrical connections andthen the rubber-like plug, which is also preferably externally tapered,is inserted in the tapered sleeve portion i3 of the reflector. When thisis done, the rubber-like plug 21 is compressed and, as a result, goodelectrical contact between the contacts of the bulb and the plug isassured and hermetically sealing of the headlight is also assured.Preferably, the plug 2l is inserted all of the way into the sleeveportion 13 until the flange 28 of the bulb engages the internal shoulderld of the sleeve portion. By reason of this, positive maintenance of thelamp in electrical Contact in the plug is brought about and theprefocused bulb 25 is accurately located with respect to thesubstantially para bolic reiiecting rear wall ll of the reflector. Whenthe bulb is in this postiion, a sharp spot is accurately afforded. if itbe desired to have a oodlighting effect as distinguished from aspotlighting effect, the plug 2l may be retracted somewhat to give thedesired effect. There is, therefore, provided a headlight constructionwhich is completely hermetically sealed so as to eliminate interiordeterioration of the headlight by moisture, fumes or the like, and whichprevents explosive atmospheres from coming into contact with the hotburning bulb. At the same time, it is also possible to remove andreplace the 'bulb and to adjustably position the bulb for the desiredlighting effect.

A clamping member 3d encompasses the rearwardly extending sleeve portioni3 of the headlight and the ends thereof are received between a pair ofears 3l formed on a supporting member 32, the clamping member andsupporting member preferably being formed from a suitable syntheticplastic material such as Bakelite, linear polyethylene or the like. Ascrew 33 extends through holes in the clamping member 31d and the ears3l and is drawn tight by a nut 3d so as to clamp the headlight in placeand so as to adjustably position the headlight wtih respect to thesupporting member 32. The rear face or the supporting member 32 ispreferably provided with a pad 35 which may be made of sponge rubber,foamed plastic or the like suitably cemented thereto. The ends of thesupporting member 32 are provided with Va pair of slots 36 which areadapted to receive the ends of a strap or headband 37 as shown moreclearly in FlGS. 2 to 5 and ll. The headband 37 is preferably formedfrom a rubber-like material such as rubber or neoprene or the like andit is provided adjacent its ends with a plurality of projections 3b. Eystretching ythe headband 37, the projections 3h may be drawn through theslots 36 so as to adjust the effective length of the headband 37. Afterthe headband has been so adjusted, it remains in proper adjustment byreason of the projections 3S engaging the supporting member 32 adjacentlthe slots 364er. in this way, the headlight may be conveniently mountedon the head of the weare FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate another manner ofmounting the headlight l@ on the head of the wearer. Here, there isprovided a cap eti having a visor el. A short strap l2 is insertedthrough the slots 36 in the base member 32 and the ends of the strap`are provided with the female 'parts 43 of snap fasteners which engagemale parts ad of the snap fasteners carried by the visor Thus, inaccordance with this arrangement, the headlight may be readily snappedon and off the visor of the cap worn by 'the wearer. The two wire cord29 may extend to batteries carried in a suitable case 45 which, forexample, may be carried by the belt of the wearer. Also, the cord 2o maybe 'provided with a suitable switch d6 for turning on and off the bulbin the headlight.

While for purposes of illustration, one basic form of the headlight ofthis invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosureand, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

l claim as my inventioni v l, A headlight adapted to be worn on the headco-mprising, an integral hollow synthetic plastic reflector having asubstantially parabolic reflecting rear wall terrnihating in a frontedge, a sleeve portion centrally arranged in the rear wall and extendingforwardly and rearwardly therefrom and providing an openingtherethrough, and an internal shoulder in the forward end of the sleeveportion, ya synthetic plastic lens hermetically sealed to the front edgeof the reflector, a two Wire cord having rubberlike insulationterminating in a molded resilient rubberlike plug having a cavitytherein, one of the wires of the cord forming a central contact in thebottom of the cavity of the plug and the other of the wires forming aside contact extending along the side of the cavity of the plug, and abulb including a base removably carried within the cavity of the plugand having a center contact engaging the central contact in the cavity,a sleeve Contact engaging the side contact in the cavity, and a flangeextending from the sleeve contact and -overlying the end of the plug,said resilient rubber-like plug being compressed and removablyfrictionally received, with the bulb in place therein, in the sleeveportion of the reflector for hermetically sealing the reflector and withthe flange of the bulb engaging the internal shoulder for loca-ting thebulb forwardly of the sleeve portion with respect to the substantiallyparabolic reflecting rear Wall of the reflector.

2. A headlight adapted to be worn on the head comprising, a hollowsynthetic plastic headlight unit including a synthetic plastic lensportion and a synthetic plastic reilector portion hermetically sealedtogether and the rellector portion being integrally provided with asynthetic plastic sleeve portion extending from within the unit to therear thereof and providing an opening through the reflector portion intothe unit, an electrical connector for the unit including a moldedresilient rubber-like plug having a cavity therein provided withcontacts, and a bulb of lesser diameter than the sleeve portion andincluding a base removably carried Within the cavity of the plug andelectrically connected to the contacts therein, said resilientrubber-like plug substantially filling the sleeve portion of theheadlight unit and being compressed and removably received with the bulbin place therein, in the sleeve portion of the headlight unit `from therear thereof for hermetically sealing the unit and for locating the bulbwithin the sealed unit.

3. A headlight adapted to be worn on the head comprising, a hollowsealed synthetic plastic headlight unit including a lens portion and areflector portion provided with a sleeve portion extending from withinthe unit to the rear thereof and providing an opening through thereflector portion into the unit, said sleeve portion having an internalshoulder at the inner end thereof, an electrical connector for the unitincluding a molded resilient rubber-like plug having a cavity thereinprovided with a central contact and a side contact, and a bulb includinga base removably carried within the cavity of the plug and having acenter conta-ct engaging the central contact in tne cavity, a sleevecontact engaging the side contact in the cavity, and a flange extendingfrom the sleeve contact and overlying the end of the plug, saidresilient rubber-like plug being compressed and removably re- Ceivedwith the bulb in place therein, in the sleeve portion of the reflectorunit with the flange of the bulb engaging the internal shoulder of thesleeve portion for hermetically sealing the unit and for locating thebulb within the sealed unit.

4. A headlight adapted to be worn on the head comprising, an integralhollow synthetic plastic reflector having a substantially parabolicreflecting rear wall terminating in a front edge, and an integralsynthetic plastic sleeve portion centrally arranged in the rear wall andextending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom and providing an openingtherethrough, a synthetic plastic lens hermetically sealed to the frontedge of the reflector, an electrical connector including a resilientrubber-like plug having a cavity therein provided with contacts, and abulb of lesser diameter than the sleeve portion and including a baseremovably carried within the cavity of the plug and electricallyconnected to the contacts therein, said resilient rubber-like plugsubstantially filling the sleeve portion of the reflector and beingcompressed and removably received, with the bulb in place therein, inthe sleeve portion of the reflector from the rear thereof forhermetically sealing the reflector and for locating the bulb forwardlyof the sleeve portion with respect to the substantially parabolicreflecting rear wall of the reflector.

5. A headlight adapted to be worn on the head comprising, an integralhollow synthetic plastic reflector having a substantially parabolicreflecting rear wall terminating in a front edge, a sleeve portioncentrally arranged on the rear wall and extending forwardly andrearwardly therefrom and providing an opening therethrough, and aninternal shoulder in the forward end of the sleeve portion, a syntheticplastic lens hermetically sealed to the front edge of the reflector, anelectrical connector including a molded resilient rubber-like plughaving a cavity therein provided with a central contact and a sidecontact, and a bulb including a base removably carried within the cavityof the plug and having a center contact engaging the central contact inthe cavity, a sleeve contact engaging the side contact in the cavity,and a flange extending from the sleeve contact and overlying the end ofthe plug, said resilient rubber-like plug being compressed and removablyreceived, with the bulb in place therein, in the sleeve portion of thereflector with the flange of the bulb engaging the internal shoulder ofthe sleeve portion for hermetically sealing the reflector and forlocating the bulb forwardly of the sleeve portion with respect to thesubstantially parabolic reflecting rear wall of the reflector.

6. A headlight adapted to be worn on the head comprising, a hollowsynthetic plastic headlight unit including a synthetic plastic lensportion and a synthetic plastic rel flector portion hermetically sealedtogether and the reflector portion being integrally provided with asynthetic plastic sleeve portion extending from the rear thereof, andproviding an opening through the reflector portion into the unit, a bulbof lesser diameter than the sleeve portion, an electrical connectorincluding a molded resilient rubber-like plug removably carrying thebulb and making electrical Contact therewith and being compressed andremovably received, with the bulb in place therein, within the sleeveportion of the headlight unit from the rear thereof for hermeticallysealing the unit and for locating the bulb within the sealed unit, theresilient rubber-like plug substantially completely filling the sleeveportion, a clamping member encompassing the sleeve portion of theheadlight unit, a supporting member, means for tightening the clampingmember about the rearwardly extending sleeve portion and adjustablypivotally mounting the clamping member on the supporting member, andmeans for mounting the supporting member on the bead of the wearer.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GravesMar. 27, 1923 Coulter May 11, 1926 Pratt Apr. 18, 1933 Boring May 26,1936 Bertrand July 11, 1939 Ryder Iuly 8, 1947 Burchard Oct. 18, 1949Chambers Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 13, 1953 GreatBritain June 23, 1954

